Post-course outcomes of apprenticeships and traineeships for people with disability in Western Australia

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Abstract

Whilst the literature consistently argues that vocational education and training, including apprenticeships and traineeships, contribute to positive employment outcomes for people with disability, little is documented regarding their post-course outcomes, particularly over time. This paper presents a retrospective outcome analysis of 253 apprentices and trainees with disability who were placed and supported by EDGE Employment Solutions (EDGE) between 2000 and 2010. EDGE, established in 1984 as a Disability Employment Service (DES) in Perth, Western Australia, has actively pursued apprenticeships and traineeship for people with disability in Australia since the 1990s. Post-course outcomes, including income, hours worked, and job durability, were analysed and compared with matched pairs of current EDGE registrants with similar socio-demographic characteristics who had not commenced an apprenticeship or traineeship.The retrospective outcome analysis found significantly better post-training outcomes for participants in the “completed” apprenticeship cohort than those achieved by their matched pairs. Improved outcomes were evident in higher hourly wages, more hours worked per week, higher weekly wages, and greater job durability. Better outcomes were also achieved by participants in the “completed” traineeship cohort and “did not complete” apprenticeship cohort. The outcomes for participants in the “did not complete” traineeship cohort did not differ significantly from the comparison group on most outcome measures.

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Lewis, Greg and Thoresen, Stian H. and Cocks, Errol. 2011. Post-course outcomes of apprenticeships and traineeships for people with disability in Western Australia. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 35 (2): pp. 107-116.

BACKGROUND: Apprenticeships and traineeships are beneficial vocational pathways for people with disabilities as they include work-based training and provide nationally recognised formal qualifications. While vocational ...

People with disabilities have low participation rates in employment and vocational education and training. Thirty adults with disabilities were sampled from an Australian longitudinal study of economic and social outcomes ...